Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-05
THE DEMAND FOR A NAVAL APPREN
TIcE SCHOOL ON THIS COAST.

Congressman Morrow has addressed a
letter 10 the Secretary Of the Navy upon
the subject Of naval apprenticeship. The
law allows $50 boys constantly to be in the
navy under instruction. 1t has been effect
i've in procuring desirable seamen for
the service. But the boys on the Pacific
coast have not the opportunity to avail of
naval training. With population of one
and half millions, this coast is debarred
from the advantage the law is intended to
extend to all the people. If, he says, the
apprenticeship system is extended to this
coast our shipping ports will soon be able
to supply naval crews The Portsmouth
was fitted up as training-ship at San
Francisco in 1873, but was soon withdrawn
on the ground that the enlistments were
too few. In fact there were 200 applicants
who clamored for admission to the school,
True, enlistments deemed satisfactory were
not large, but Mr. Morrow charges this to
the severity of the regulations, the un-
necessary strictness applied to physical ex-
aminations, and the fact that the sohool-ship
jamestown, where the term of service un-
der instruction was much less and the ex-
animation less technical, WAS in the harbor
at the same time Municipal economy OPP
Grated to the abandonment of the James
town scheme.
This was twelve years ago, and since
then the population has largely increased.
If the naval apprentice system should
be now set up on this coast, there would,
Mr.. Morrow holds. be a very different
result, and in short time war ships could
be supplied with seamen here, at greatly
less expense to the Government And in
this conclusion he is certainly justified
For the year ending June 80, 1886, 1875
BOYS were under instruction in the navy,
or on duty on cruisers. In that time 459
boys were received into the service, or POI
less than the number authorized for enlist
ment. This coast could, in large part, have
supplied that deficiency. He asks the Sec
rotary to consider the question in the light of
the facts with view of locating train
ing-ship in San Francisco bay. Applica-
tons are being constantly made by parents
for their sons, and by lads themselves to
enter the navy, but the remoteness of the
coast from the naval schools of the East in
the vast majority of cases precludes send
ing the boys to them.
The petition of Mr.. Morrow is strongly
fortified by the sentiment of the people
and by the legitimate demands of the
coast, and it is to be hoped that the prayer
will be granted and naval Scholarship be
again located upon this side of the CONT
nent.
The regulations of the navy admit boys
between fourteen and eighteen years to
serve until they are twenty-one. The re-
quirements are that they must be of robust
frame, intelligent, of perfectly sound and
healthy constitution, free from any physi-
cal defects or malformation, not subject to
fits, and that they shall be able to read
and write. The boys are enlisted as third
class apprentices at the rate of 50 per
month and one ration. If deserving, they
may he promoted to the rating of second
ard frst-ciass apprentices, or seamen APP
prentiees second-class at the pay of SO,
ST. and SO per month, respectively; and
on cruising vessels will be entitled TO
higher rating, at the discretion of COM
handing officers, for proficiency.
If recommended, upon the expiration of
their enlistment, the lads receive an hon
orable discharge, which upon re-enlist-
ment within three months entities them to
three months extra pay of their rating
when discharged, and also an addition of
one dollar per month to their pay during
such enlistment Those injured in the
service or having contracted disease in
the line Of duty are entitled to the benefits
of a pension. The apprentices are usu-
ally detained at the station about six
months, and are taught arithme-
tic, geography, history, and writing,
together with the primary duties of the
young sailor, such as knottins and splicing,
heaving the lead, working compass, reefng
and furling sails, pulling in boats, great
gun drill, artillery and infantry tactics.
After their preliminary instruction they
are drafted into the cruising training
ships, when they are sent abroad to learn
the usages of sea life and the higher du-
ties of the sailor.
Enlistments may now be made at the
Navy Department, Washington, or on the
ships "New Hampshire" Coasters Har-
Dor Island, near Newport, &. L; the Wa
bash" Navy Yard, League Island, Phila-
delphia; the Dale" Navy Yard, Wash
ington, D. C.; or the Michigan" Erie,
Pa
Very few ii any worthy boys of the Pa
cilic coast, it viii be seen, can avail of in
struction on these ships. To do so would
involve considerable expense, remove the
boys far distant from their homes and
friends, and as most lads desiring to enter
the navy are sons of parents of but mod
crate means at best. theY cannot afford the
expense of transportation to distant
point, with the possibility of rejection in
view, and a necessary return. Mr.. Nor
row proposes TO move Congress to order
constructed three composite bark-rigged
steamers for the navy. One of these the
bill viii require to be located at San Fran
cisco for naval school purpose, while
naval training station shall be
set up at the Mare Island Navy Yard.
1t is to be hoped he may succeed in secur-
ing the passage of the bill. The training
station would supply not only the needs Of